Sunday, April 5, 2015

Simple Guidelines For A DIY Fence Project

Building a fence is not brain surgery, but you really should start with a plan. In this article, you will find some useful tips that will help you get your new fence built. There will be some tools suggestions, such as which are the best impact drivers and which tool is best for digging holes for fence posts. You may not set a record for speed, but when you are done, you will have something to be proud of, a fence that will last you years.

The planning stage is extremely important in any DIY project, and fence construction is no different. There are plenty of online videos and tutorials to help you get started, but there are some very important decisions to make before you start.

Before you dig your first hole, make sure you check with your local building department and your local home owner's association to find out what rules and codes apply to your project. Some folks subscribe to the idea that they can plead ignorance and get away with not following the rules, but it may not go well with you. There are enough stories about fences and out-buildings that have had to be de-constructed because the home owner did not follow this simple advice.

You may also want to consider getting a set of plans for your fence. These usually come with a list of supplies and materials which will take the guesswork out of your DIY fence project.

As you calculate the amount of materials, you will have a fairly good idea of how much the project will cost. You don't want to be half-way through and discover you don't have enough money to finish.

A project that is large enough sometimes can justify getting a new tool or two. The idea is not to get tools just because you want to emulate "Tim-the-Toolman Taylor" but some tools can save you enough time and energy to justify the expense.

In the case of a fence, there will be a lot of fastening of boards together. This can be done with nails or screws. In the case of nails, a nail gun would be in order. If screws are used, a new impact driver will serve you well. Since this is a fairly new type of tool, make sure you do some research to find the best impact drivers for the kind of screws you will be using. This will save you lots of physical stress and exhaustion, especially if you are not used to the type of energy and muscle use involved in this kind of construction.

If you live in an area that experiences cold winters, you will want to know how deep the winter frost goes so you can get below that. Going below the frost line will help keep your posts in the ground. Digging your holes too shallow could result in the posts being pushed up when the ground freezes. Also use a string line to keep your fence straight. Set each post along the string. (Skip this step, and you will never hear the end of it from your spouse and your neighbours when your fence looks like the Snake River.)

Another tool that is very helpful is an auger. This is especially true if you live in an area with hard soil or lots of small rocks under the surface. If you do rent a post hole digger, employ the help of a friend. Two people handling an auger is so much easier than one because these tools are so bulky and hard to move by a single individual.

Finally, put a good coat of weather proofing on your finished lumber. You want your work to look good for as long as possible. New lumber looks good at first, but it only takes a few months to start turning grey. Take care of your fence, and it will give your years of use.

DIY Resources:

Teds Woodworking
Created by Ted McGrath, "Teds Woodworking" is one of the most popular woodworking plans and projects packages online today.More info here

Furniture Craft Plans
Over 9,000 premium woodworking furniture and craft plans that you can easily follow at home.More info here

Home Made Power Plant
There are some other guides for DIY wind and solar generators, but all of those that I've read don't get into the same details.More info here

Chickens 4 Wealth
Absolutely everything you need to know to get started with backyard chickens and produce your own eggs.More info here

About the Author:
Building a fence can be a fun project. You can get your whole family involved. It can get ugly, though, if you don't have the best impact drivers or nail guns to make the work easier. Look at www.bestimpactdrivers.com to find the right one for your project.